New Solstice owner advice?

[boomster]

Just bought this past weekend a 2007 "Deep" Solstice 2.4 fully loaded with 2 tone leather except Onstar in Baltimore MD.

I'm really loving the car. Ever since I saw it as a concept car I've wanted one. Just happens that I had some saved up money and one was on sale for a great deal near me (at least I thought it was).

Do you have any advice for a new owner?

Is it my imagination or is this car a bug magnet? I'm guessing it's the way the car is shaped, but my windshield seems to seek out every bug it can find.

Really looking forward to many years with my dream car.

[gz9gjg]

Congratulations Boomster - enjoy your Solstice!

Always be sure your deck lid is fully latched after you drop the top. If it pops open while you are driving, it can cause fairly extensive damage to the decklid and the rear bumper fascia. Push the top down on both right and left sides to compress it, before closing the decklid.

Some owners report the rocker panel below the door gets road rash, so you might want to get clear protector film or the GM mudguards (front and rear) added. There are protective film kits available for the front fascia and hood, too.

If you need more luggage space, there are hitches and racks available, or you could add a luggage rack on the decklid.

There is lots of great information on this forum, and the members are always ready to help.

Have fun,

Lynne

[GaryDN]

congrats Boomster, gz9gjg really sum up the items need at first. then look around the forum and you will find many more upgrade you will want

[boomster]

Thanks for the tips and the welcome. That film protection sounds like a great idea. I'll look into it.

And I've already found out that the truck isn't as easy to close as you think... I was driving down the road and noticed a light on the dash. Thankfully I didn't go very far before I noticed it.

[sky888]

congrats on your new car

[duckSol]

Congrats here also.
Yes it is a BIG bug magnet and PAM cooking spray on the nose works good. Despite my reputation otherwise, I am serious now.
When serious, I use few if any smileys.
Welcome.

[worg]

Hi, can you tell me more about the protective film - is it the one they offer at the dealer or is it an aftermarket product - any specific reccomendations?

worg

[ChrisBlair]

Originally Posted by boomster Just bought this past weekend a 2007 "Deep" Solstice 2.4 fully loaded with 2 tone leather except Onstar in Baltimore MD. I'm really loving the car. Ever since I saw it as a concept car I've wanted one. Just happens that I had some saved up money and one was on sale for a great deal near me (at least I thought it was). Do you have any advice for a new owner? Is it my imagination or is this car a bug magnet? I'm guessing it's the way the car is shaped, but my windshield seems to seek out every bug it can find. Really looking forward to many years with my dream car.

Its a bug, rock, and road tar magnet. I find dead bugs (as in "this looks like a good place to drop dead") all over my car every morning. Most rock-chipped car I've ever owned, and there's more road tar on the car than on most public roads. The bugs use it as a morgue, and the birds think its a toilet

But I love it.

Important tip, that I found out from bad experience:

if your job, or a private golf club or something like that requires an ID badge, take it off your belt before getting in the car

Last saturday after leaving the rifle rage at my club, I got into my Solstice. The seatbelt caught the clasp on my ID badge, broke off the metal clip, and the exposed metal scarred my seat in a line 6" long, as I sat down

[ChrisBlair]

Originally Posted by duckSol Congrats here also. Yes it is a BIG bug magnet and PAM cooking spray on the nose works good. Despite my reputation otherwise, I am serious now. When serious, I use few if any smileys. Welcome.

Butter flavored or regular?

[boomster]

Thank guys.

I do have a badge for work so I'll need to keep that in mind.

And if PAM really works, then I'm going to try it. I walked outside this morning and saw a bunch of new bugs on the front of the car.

[hmandel]

Congrats, Boomster! I am driving my second N/A, so here goes. First of all, and ducksol, you can correct me if I am wrong, but the PAM ain't gonna deter the bugs, it's just going to make it easier to get them off. I just wash my baby weekly and follow up with a quick application of Turtle Wax Ice. Makes the bugs rinse right off the following week and I suspect gives the car a much better shine than PAM.
Next, since you have an 07, make sure your rear diff had the recall work done.
If this is your first vert, be careful if you ever park in the sun and leave your top down, even for only a few minutes. That leather is going to cook your ass when you sit back down in your car.
Always leave the top handle in the open position (don't move it after you release the top) when you store it in the trunk - if you move it, you'll probably break it.
Always close your rear decklid, especially with the top down, from the upper middle between the humps, with the palm of your hand.
Leave the windows down when putting the top back up.
Check the clearance between the top of your windows and your top when you open and close your doors; if the top of the window hits the top, it will eventually damage the top - if they do hit, it's an easy fix, the windows just need to be aligned.
The road rash really depends on where and how you drive. I don't have a problem with it, and I have found that not having rear mudguards is a wonderful deterrent for having idiots tailgate you in the rain - those big ol' 18 x 8's throw up enough crap that it even keeps the big SUV's off my tail in the rain.
A lot of people, even here in this forum, are going to tell you how much better the GXP is than the N/A....while I do admit that the extra 100 hp and lb-ft of torque along with the sport tuned suspension makes the GXP a real beast, the N/A is every bit as good an automobile. And if you are like me, and get your thrills from mashing on the gas when you hit a turn (the sharper the better), you have just as good a car.
You said you don't have Onstar, just keep in mind that you also don't have a spare tire in your car. This is the main reason I have Onstar and intend to keep it.
Don't use your cup holders for cups, damn things were not made for them.
Remember that you can store stuff in the back of your seat, and that there are storage pockets in the front of your seats, too.
I haven't had any problems with them, but lots of people here are really dissatisfied with the stock tires.
I can't think of anything else, this car is absolutely wonderful. There is never a day that I can't get in it and, no matter how crappy the day has been, feel better just behind the wheel.
Oh, just a couple more things...my new Sol has a subwoofer - really gives the stock radio some balls. You said your car was loaded, so I assume you already have the subwoofer, it's located behind the passenger seat.
Last thing, add the word PERMAGRIN to your vocabulary....you're gonna have one as long as you own that baby!
Good luck!

[BellaVerde]

GREAT summary, hmandel! As a fellow NA-er, I couldna said it better. I will throw in that the Black Hole polish for darker cars has been a real find for me! The bugs will become fewer when the weather cools off, I'm told. Oh...try cold weather top down, boomster! With the heater going full blast on the double level setting, those really clear, cold nights on dark roads can get almost spiritual!

[Northstar24]

Originally Posted by BellaVerde Oh...try cold weather top down, boomster! With the heater going full blast on the double level setting, those really clear, cold nights on dark roads can get almost spiritual!

Couldn't have said this better myself - this is how I used to roll in the Supra

Congrats on the new ride to the OP!

[boomster]

Damn hmandel, I really appreciate the time you took to type all of that out. Some really good advice in there that I'm going to use. I've already made a few mistakes it seems that I'm going to correct (like keeping the windows up while putting the top back up and not leaving the handle in that position).

I'm not sure I'm satisfied with the tires either. They grip really well on dry pavement, but the other day into work my car decided it wanted to drift for fun on an exit ramp... but I also took the turn pretty fast on wet pavement.

While I'm somewhat jealous of the GXP's, I feel very comfortable with the HP she already has. I can definitely get some power when I need it. And boy I can't imagine a better suspension... besides the wet incident I've had no problems at all hugging the road and feeling like I'm in a car that would handle any curve I give her.

I do have the Monsoon with the sub behind the passenger seat. I almost wish it was behind the driver's seat to feel it more. But I have noticed (just today) if I move the seat forward just a small amount, it makes a huge difference in the sound filling the cabin better and me feeling it more.

I've seen convertibles in the cold with the top down and used to think damn, what are they on? But now that I have one I can't wait to try it out. I bet it's a nice experience. Probably like hot tubbing in the cold.

[nubwon]

Welcome to the forum boomster. We just got our "new to us" '07 solstice gxp in April of this year. It is the most fun car I have ever owned. I hope to never be without it. Just as a side note to everyone complaining about the bugs on the front . Try using one of your wife's dryer sheets. Wet it and and rub the bugs off. You will be amazed at how much easier it makes bug removal......NUB...